Rowena (Tawa Bookseller) read & enjoyed Song of the Saltings.. finding these great reviews by Rebekah, Adele & Alex... have put what she think into words, so she is in agreement and grateful for their reviews.
www.nzbooklovers.co.nz "King's writing is lyrical and poetic, but not superfluous. Her love of folklore shines through with every sentence...... Song of the Saltings is an exquisitely crafted folk horror fantasy about courage and magic, monsters and myth." Reviewed Rebekah Lyell
www.whatbooknext.com by Adele "Wow! This YA novel had me captured from the first few sentences to the very last, as I turned the pages faster and faster. The pacing of the story is excellent, building the setting, characters gradually (but not slowly), giving me all the understanding I needed to fully appreciate what it was like living on an island of contrasts.
www.thesapling.co.nz by Alex Adunk "This book would be perfect for teenagers interested in fantasy and folklore, but also in social justice and history. Dictatorships rely on their people remaining compliant, and it’s great to see a couple of young protagonists who aren’t willing to simply accept the cruelty they have been raised to accept as normal.
King’s writing here is excellent and she has really hit her stride with these folklore-inspired stories which still feel fresh and modern."
Adele recommend the novel for 12 years & up and Alex wrote "For parents concerned about content level, the story would be suitable for ages 12–18, and I also recommend it for any interested adults."
In the isolated island of Brack, the people live by an ancient bargain: every year, a sacrifice must be made to the Glimm, the creature that haunts the salt marshes.
Eight years after the monster spared her, 16-year-old Lotta tends the Council's sacrificial horses and keeps her distance from the villagers who whisper about her fate.
But something is stirring. The island is dying. It hums beneath her feet, and a song threads through her dreams. Is the Glimm calling Lotta back?
A chance encounter with Moss, a village outcast, will change both their lives, and the fate of the island, forever.
To uncover Brack's deepest secrets, Lotta and Moss will need to trust each other and risk everything they hold dear.
Because on Brack, monsters come in many forms.
Perfect for YA readers looking for:
- Folk horror fantasy like The Scorpio Races
- Excitement, passion and danger
- A strong heroic female character
- A read that will have you on the edge of your seat
Rachael King is a writer, reviewer, former literary festival director and ex-bass player living in Otautahi Christchurch. Her novels for young people include The Grimmelings, which has won several awards and is published worldwide; the Violet and the Velvets series, inspired by her time as a teenage bass player; and Secrets at Red Rocks, which won the Esther Glen Medal in 2013 (as Red Rocks) and was relaunched to coincide with a television adaptation released on Sky/Neon in March 2025. Song of the Saltings is her first novel for young adults.
Rachael was named Best Reviewer at the Voyager New Zealand Media Awards in 2023, received a Waitangi Day Honour Award for her work at WORD Christchurch in 2020, and was awarded the 2025 Frank Sargeson Fellowship. She sometimes writes for adults too.
Age: From 13 years
Paperback, 336 pages
H: 234mm W: 153mm
Weight: 386 grams